Do The Week 7 Predictions Create Excitement For The Independence Bowl?
With Shreveport's Independence Bowl approaching, speculation is growing about the teams that will travel to Shreveport this December. This year's Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl is scheduled for a noon kickoff (local time) on Tuesday, December 30th, at Independence Stadium. While the primary agreement pairs teams from the Big 12 and Conference USA, the final matchup is dependent on a number of variables from the college football regular season.
Independence Bowl Matchup Concerns For 2025
Several factors could influence the final pairing for Shreveport's bowl game. The Independence Bowl holds the sixth selection from the Big 12's pool of bowl-eligible teams. This position in the selection order means the conference must have significant depth for a team to be available.
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The expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams presents a major variable. If the Big 12 has a strong season and places multiple teams in the playoff, those schools are removed from the bowl selection pool. This could thin the number of available teams considerably. Additionally, all teams must achieve the six-win threshold for bowl eligibility, and a few late-season losses across the conference could further shrink the pool.
To address this uncertainty, bowl organizers have contingency plans. The primary backup agreement is with the Sun Belt Conference, so if the Big 12 cannot provide a team, the invitation would be extended to a Sun Belt school. Should that option also be unavailable, the bowl would select an "at-large" team from any conference in the nation that has an eligible team without a bowl destination.
Week 7 Independence Bowl Predictions For Big 12 Teams
Current projections suggest the Big 12 will have a deep roster of eligible teams, creating several intriguing possibilities for Shreveport.
Looking at the geographic appeal for the teams in question, someone like TCU (from Fort Worth, Texas) presents a compelling option. The proximity would likely drive significant ticket sales, and high attendance from a fan base that can easily travel to the game. Other regional programs like Texas Tech or Baylor also offer reliable fan support.
If the game, or ESPN in reality, want national attention, there are a few programs that would work. The Kansas Jayhawks offer a powerful narrative. The program's impressive turnaround under coach Lance Leipold has garnered national attention, and their energized fan base would bring a fresh and interesting team to the city. Then there's always Colorado. The national media focus on coach Deion Sanders could elevate the game's profile, leading to higher television ratings, and widespread interest beyond the participating teams' fan bases.
Conference USA Week 7 Independence Bowl Predictions
The selection from Conference USA is more direct, but includes a key local consideration. The College Football Playoff is not a factor for the conference, because all of the teams in the conference have at least one loss. This makes their pool of eligible teams more predictable.
The leading candidate in terms of local interest is Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs played in last year's Independence Bowl, but a return would guarantee strong community engagement and attendance. The decision for bowl organizers would be whether to feature the hometown team in consecutive years, or to invite a new participant.
Other regional options could include Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks aren't located in Florida, but rather Jacksonville, Alabama. Just an 8 hour drive away. Jacksonville State has had a successful transition to the FBS level, and fans are still riding high on bowl game participation. The team has only played in two bowls since becoming FBS eligible, including the 2023 New Orleans Bowl and 2024 Cure Bowl.
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Western Kentucky is another attractive media choice, due to its reputation for a high-scoring, exciting offense that appeals to a broad television audience.
The Week 7 Independence Bowl Projection
Given the current standings, it appears likely that both the Big 12 and Conference USA will fulfill their bowl commitments. While the backup scenarios remain a possibility, the most probable outcome is a matchup between the two primary conference partners.
We're going to stick with our same Conference USA pick, but change up the Big 12 pick. Now we think Baylor vs. Louisiana Tech is what we will see.
This matchup would combine the regional draw of Baylor, with the passionate and local support for the Bulldogs. Having two regional teams would create high community engagement, and presents an ideal scenario for the Independence Bowl and the city of Shreveport.